WHO issues a warning on animal bites

Feb. 22, WHO releases a fact sheet regarding animal bites and warned countries to highlight the harm they might bring to public health, reported by Xinhuanet.com from Geneva.

In the fact sheet, animal bites are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Snakes, dogs, cats and monkeys are blamed for most animal bites to human beings. Worldwide, up to five million people are bitten by snakes every year,the majority in Africa and South-East Asia, and 94,000 - 125,000 deaths annually, with an additional 400,000 amputations and other severe health consequences.

WHO also points out, dog bites account for tens of millions of injuries annually. In the United States of America for example, approximately 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs every year. Dogs usually attack children at the head and neck, to be severely threats to their lives. Because female adults like to take cats as their pets, which makes them to be most of victims of cat bites. Monkey bites are an important risk among tourists. An estimated 55,000 people die annually from rabies, and bites from rabid dogs, cats or monkeys account for the vast majority of these deaths.

WHO prioritizes data collection initiatives to help countries to understand the burden and risk factors of these injuries caused by animal bites, advocates the strengthening of emergency response services for people that are injure, and promotes research initiatives that focus on effective prevention interventions and populations most affected.